Rooney Gets Just What He Deserves

February 4, 2008

Moaning Gunners still harp on about the game at Old Trafford which ended their impressive unbeaten run. United scored two goals, whilst Arsenal could only manage to create one shot on target, yet still they argue they were hard done by. The first goal was a penalty, which Ruud van Nistelrooy slotted away, redeeming himself from the prior last minute penalty miss against Arsenal. Rooney broke in to the box, Sol Campbell stuck his leg out, and Rooney ended up on the floor. Replays show no contact was made.

He was an 18 year old lad back then and since then we’ve seen Rooney rule out that kind of behaviour, at times, to his detriment. There have been several occasions for United when Rooney has been fouled, but has chosen to bulldoze through, and isn’t always rewarded for that. The best example of this attitude can be illustrated by his sending off for England at the last World Cup. Rooney was fouled several times in the lead up to the red card, but instead of hitting the deck, he carried on getting up and trying to win the ball. Had he gone down under the first foul, the whole situation could have been avoided. (However, I’m not sure if that would have been for the best of Manchester United. Ronaldo became a hate figure in this country because of the sending off, and without the taunts and jeers he endured each week, without the desire to prove people wrong and shut them up with his football displays, would we see the player we have in Ronaldo now?)

With time running out for United against Spurs, Rooney burst in to the box, taking the ball past Dawson, before throwing himself on to the ground. This wasn’t the Rooney we know and love. He had got himself in to a great goalscoring opportunity, but instead of taking that, he cheated and tried to win us a penalty. I imagine this came about from the pressure of United needing a goal, and the ever increasing pressure he is putting on himself to play well. Regardless, these are reasons, not excuses, as there is no excuse for it.

Rooney picked up his fifth yellow card of the season for the dive, meaning he will now miss derby day. Missing derby day should be punishment enough, but we all know this isn’t any derby day. Sunday marks a momentous occasion for United, the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, which is something that has shaped our club and fans in unmeasureable ways. To play a part in that game, with the survivors of the crash as well as the family members of those who lost their lives watching, would be an incredible honour. As revealed earlier this week, the team has been given somewhat of an education on the Busby Babes, aided by visits from Sir Bobby Charlton to talk to the players, means their understanding of the disaster and the strong connections they will feel with the former representatives of the club, will be at its highest.

The Times reported on Charlton’s trip to talk to the United players. “After he spoke he sat down with the players in a darkened room and watched a DVD that the club had made about Munich. A tear came to his eye, but he was not necessarily alone as the scale of the disaster dawned on Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest. Sir Alex Ferguson said “you could have heard a pin drop”, while even Gary Neville, part of the furniture at Old Trafford, admitted that he had never heard Charlton speak “at such close quarters and with such intimacy”.”

Because of Rooney’s stupidity, he will now miss out on his place in this historic occasion, and it is a painful lesson for him to learn. He only has himself to blame though, and I hope the next time he charges in to the box, he makes the right decision.

10 Comments

it was disappointing at best. a stunner that silenced the pub on the reply. as rooney goes from week to week struggling to live up to his own high standards, it was very difficult to watch him dive to the ground like he did. I only hope, as you said, he can learn a lesson from it because restarting this behaviour at this point in his career does not point to positive things for Wazza. I think he is an outstanding player, but he let us all down on Saturday.

I was embarrassed for him and for us. It's something you don't expect from him. I thought to myself, "God, Wayne, has it gotten *that* bad that you have to take a dive?" It is very telling of where his confidence and state of mind is right now. hope he has a good think on it when he's warming the bench on Derby Day.

Not trying to find any excuses for Rooney, but I think the reason why he is going to miss the derby match is simply because fergie got his tactics wrong on Sunday.Why did he slot Rooney on the right after Scholes and Giggs came off? Let nani go to the left, ronaldo to the right, push rooney all the way upfront, and I'm sure things would be different. In my point of view, Spurs handled all the attacks that we threw forward simply because they were much quicker in anticipating our passes. Where is Ronaldo when we needed that bit of magic? He could have easily dragged 2 or more defenders outwards, creating space for the strikers.

In fact, from my humble opinion, Rooney was one of the better performers (Anderson aside). He tracked back, defended when necessary,but got played out of position. He delivered an inswinger from the right that Ronaldo should have buried it into the net with his head. Don't get me wrong. I hate divers. I so badly wanted Ronaldo out couple of seasons back because he just kept diving. All of us fans know that it is a despicable thing to do, even if it means 3 pts dropped i certainly wouldn't want any pts by cheating.

Against Spurs, we were disappointing, maybe highlighting the need of a another bigger centre forward, just to rotate and provide a different dimension to our attack. It might have also demonstrated that Ronaldo is still not able to deliver against a better team, and that we cannot always rely on him.

Rooney needs to be more selfish as a striker, in terms of staying upfront and demanding the ball. If i'm fergie, i would give a shoot-on-sight order to Rooney when he is back against Arsenal. Give that boy a little self-belief back, and maybe the treble dream will be then become a reality.

I am just gutted that Wayne Rooney, one of the true Young Greats of this modern United will miss the game that falls on the day where United will be paying tribute to the many Young Greats that were taken from this club in 1958.

That is what sticks with me every day, the dive was forgotten about by the time the ball was in the back of Sours net. As long as he doesn't keep it up.

Rooney is the most unselfish great player I have seen. All other great players look to be served and they show lack of respect for their teammates when going gets tough, but wayne is different. His goal is to win matches for manchester united. For that he is willing to sacrifice the little matters of numbers of goals scored. While ronaldo always seems to be playing for his goals and fame. He might care about United but he cares more about himself. Ronaldo should have put that header in the net. He is totally different player when he plays for portugal, we can see he is more committed.

Wayne Rooney any day above one one else. He dived because he wanted to win the match for united. Ronaldo dives because he wants to get another goal against his name. It was not good but i can understand why rooney dived.

COMEON WAYNE YOU ARE THE BEST. You have been trying to be too smart in front of the goal but we want you to blast the ball in the net. A little bit more composer and the chips will go in .

If Rooney finish sacrifying and there is no one to put d ball behind d net where then is man united, rooney is so good, my man any day; ronaldo is so super, we had a bad day thats is all, every three point is ok with me as long as the ref agree !!!!! up united

I believe we should not speak badly against one of our own. Ronaldo may be selfish but i do think he does play his heart out like rooney does. Their personalities are different, ronaldo is more flashy while rooney more humble. Every one of us is unique so just let them develop their own style